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Posted on: March 15, 2018

Williamson County named second healthiest county in Texas

John Teel, executive director of Williamson County and Cities Health District, is commending in a statement to City of Taylor management and Council the quality of life they provide for our community after the 2018 County Health Rankings show that Williamson County is named as the second healthiest county in Texas. In 2017, WilCo held the number four spot. Teel states that the fundamentals remain the same year to year: active living, healthy eating and zero tobacco use.

Denton County holds the number one slot. The rankings are produced by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

According to the WilCo release, all counties are ranked using a variety of data including Health Factors, which measure:

the rate of education

housing

crime

employment

unhealthy behaviors

exercise

These components are considered to be “changeable behaviors” and indicate the current and future health of a county. Also ranked are Health Outcomes, which are based on length of life and the quality of daily physical and mental health. Since the rankings were first introduced in 2010, Williamson County has been consistently ranked in the top five healthiest counties.

Teel says, "Once again, County Health Rankings demonstrate that Wilco’s residents, hospital systems, physician practices, faith communities, public schools, city and county leaders, higher education institutions, business leaders, and non-profit organizations place our citizens’ physical, behavioral, and spiritual health as key priorities in nearly everything they do. This level of attention to mind, body, and soul remains fundamental to Williamson County’s growth, and to this wonderful county’s desirability as a place to live, work, worship, play, get an education, and operate a business.”

Teel thanks the Board of Health and the Health District’s eight member governments for their leadership in championing public health in WilCo; and Bluebonnet Trails Community Services and Lone Star Circle of Care for their vital roles in keeping WilCo’s citizens healthy.

The Health District and its many partners such as members of the WilCo Wellness Alliance coalition, stakeholders at the local, county and state level, school districts, faith-based organizations, and healthcare partners are deliberate and proactive in improving the overall health of the community. Together the partners created a Community Health Improvement Plan, based on the 2016 Community Health Assessment, to guide community health activities for the next three years.

“We, as citizens of this county through the WilCo Wellness Alliance, are taking the lead and making the changes that will ensure our place as one of the healthiest counties for years to come,” said WilCo Wellness Alliance Coordinator Kelli Becerra, M.Ed., CHES.

The annual report analyzes the health of every county across the United States. The rankings are available online at www.countyhealthrankings.org/texas/williamson. Learn more about the WilCo Wellness Alliance coalition and county health data at www.healthywilliamsoncounty.org.